Whanganui has a range of galleries. Quay School of the Arts supports The Federal Gallery, housed in the historic Federal Hotel building which shows student work, curated shows and group exhibitions throughout the year. The Edith Gallery is a new space housed within the Atrium in the new Whanganui UCOL complex which shows individual and small group exhibitions throughout the year.

The Sarjeant Gallery is an iconic regional gallery and houses major collections in photography and New Zealand art. The Sarjeant Annual Arts Review is a keynote point on the Wanganui art calendar and a major art event which includes a student only money award.

The Whanganui Regional Museum houses significant Maori and Pacific Island taonga as well as historic collection of New Zealand culture.

Chronicle Glass, started by Wanganui Polytech Grad Lyndsay Patterson, Katie Brown and Karen Ellett is housed in the reclaimed site of the Original Wanganui Chronicle newspaper building and opens it's doors to the public to show finished work as well as glass artists at work at an on-going kiln site.(link0

Dealer Galleries in the area include WHMilbank Gallery, which shows both Whanganui and New Zealand wide contemporary art of all media and McNamara Gallery which shows significant photographic artists primarily from New Zealand. (link) Other important art events include the Artists Open Studio,usually held in March which opens the doors of numerous local artists studios to the general public, Wanganui Festival of Glass which highlights our diverse glass community.